Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara: “This time, when our names were called, so many people cheered for us as if we were at home, and that made us really happy.”
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered a flawless performance in the team event at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, setting a personal best and boosting Japan’s chances for double gold.
original source: news.yahoo.co.jp dd. 6th January 2026 / sponichi.co.jp dd. 6th January 2026
Japanese pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara reflected on their personal-best performance in the pairs short program at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, expressing confidence and gratitude for the support they received. Here’s a translation of their comments.
Miura said, “Even before we skated, both of us felt confident going into the event. We just needed to trust in all the practice we’ve done so far, so I focused on each element, and we were able to execute almost all of them at our best. I’m really happy with how it went.” Kihara added that their lifts received extra points for perfection, saying, “We were able to check the finer details and thoroughly practice right before the event, so it was good that we could review everything before the competition.”
Unlike the previous Olympics, they were able to enjoy performing in front of spectators. Kihara commented, “This time, when our names were called, so many people cheered for us as if we were at home, and that made me really happy.”
Regarding Miura’s shoulder injury, she said, “Over the past seven years, we’ve gone through injuries and tough times together and overcome them. We’ve built up a lot of good practice, and all of that has become our confidence.” She further stated, “I can say with certainty that we’re in the best condition of the season, so I want to continue to approach each upcoming event with care and focus.”
Their score of 82.84 points was a new personal best, launching their campaign for gold in both pairs and team events.
Miura expressed her joy: “That fist pump came straight from the heart, showing that all the practice we’ve done wasn’t for nothing. Not just this season, but I was able to show everything I’ve worked on over the past seven years. I truly achieved a personal best, and I hope I can carry this momentum into the individual event.” She felt the results reflected their hard work.
Reflecting on the past four years, Miura said, “Compared to four years ago (Pyeongchang Olympics), I feel completely different. Over these four years, I’ve had injuries and many setbacks, but experiencing all that has made me mentally stronger.”
Kihara commented, “This is my fourth Olympics, so it doesn’t feel much different from a regular competition. But I was really happy to have so many people cheering for us. I was able to look around and take it all in, so I think today went well. I didn’t see the score at first, so I wasn’t sure what it was… but everyone was celebrating. At first, I didn’t know what was happening, so my reaction was a bit delayed. But I was able to show in competition what we’ve practiced, so that’s one good thing.”
At last December’s Natioanls, Miura dislocated her left shoulder and withdrew from the free skate, raising concerns about her condition. However, she returned even stronger, revising her training to strengthen the muscles around her shoulder joint. “This method suits me, and my shoulder is the strongest it’s ever been,” Miura said. Since resuming practice at the end of last year, she’s told Kihara, “Please grip my shoulder firmly during the performance,” and felt no anxiety on this day.
Related topics: Olympic Games, Riku Miura Ryuichi Kihara
Leave a Reply